Introduction
- Recap of previous lecture
- Overview of today’s topics
Federalism - Evolution of Federal-State Relations 🇺🇸
The Constitutional Order - Federalism
- Definition: Distribution of power and authority on a geographical basis
- Purpose: A system of checks and balances to prevent tyranny
Eras of Federalism 🕰️
- Dual Federalism (1789–1933)
- “Layer Cake Federalism” 🍰
- Federal role limited to “enumerated” powers
layer cake
- Cooperative Federalism (1933–1964)
- “Marble Cake Federalism” 🍰
- Federal and state governments collaborate
marble cake
- Creative Federalism (1964–1980)
- “Picket Fence Federalism” 🏡
- Federal government interacts directly with local governments
picket fence
- New Federalism (1980–2012)
- “Pineapple Upside Down Cake Federalism” 🍍
- Increased discretion for state and local governments
pineapple upsidedown cake
- Fragmented Federalism (2012–Present)
- Federal government pursues state-specific policies
- COVID-19 response as an example 😷
Fiscal Federalism 💰
- Federal: Redistribution of wealth
- State: Funding of services
- Local: Direct provision of services
- Block Grants vs. Categorical Grants
- Unfunded Mandates
Case Study - Federalism in Action 🔍
- Example: Examine the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)
- Discussion: How does this case illustrate the challenges and opportunities of federalism?
Growth of Government 📈
Key Points
- Government today is larger and more impactful
- Increase in departments, agencies, and employees
- Shift from a free-market to a regulated economy
- Citizen demands for government action continue to rise
Historical Context 🕰️
- Growth since the nation’s founding, driven by:
- Industrialization
- Social welfare needs
- Global responsibilities
- Major expansions: New Deal, Great Society, Post-9/11 security state
Interactive Poll - Government Growth 📊
- Poll Question: Should government continue to grow to meet new challenges, or be scaled back? Why?
- Use online polling tool and discuss results
Government Institutions and Policy Capacity 🏛️
Policy Capacity
- Definition: The government’s ability to identify, assess, and respond to public problems
- Influenced by institutional structure, resources, and expertise
Structure and Challenges
- Checks and balances
- Fragmentation of power
- Vertical and horizontal separation of powers
- Stalemate during divided government
- Increased polarization and difficulty in finding common ground
- Information asymmetry between branches and levels of government
State Variation in Policy Capacity 🏴
Decentralization
- Varies by state due to:
- Size and population
- Economic resources
- Political culture
Implications
- Effectiveness: ability to achieve policy goals
- Efficiency: optimal use of resources
- Equity: fair distribution of benefits and burdens
Challenges
- States’ policy performance varies, influenced by:
- Financial resources
- Technical expertise
- Local political pressures
- Interest group influence
Summary and Q&A 🤓
- Recap key points
- Questions?
Reading Assignment, Kritik, and Next Week